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by Alex Wynick, Reporter covering Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys. Call me on 01865 425403

PRINCESS Leia’s hair, Darth Vader’s heavy breathing, Jabba the Hutt – Star Wars characters are some of the most famous in the world.

But Jon Spira, from Thrupp, near Kidlington, is looking at the lesser-known characters in his upcoming documentary film Elstree 1976.

The filmmaker explained: “We have spent the last 18 months travelling the country tracking down and interviewing people who were extras, had small roles, or were cut out of the first Star Wars film.

“We had two rules: they had to appear on camera at some point and their faces had to be obscured by masks or helmets.”

The project began when Mr Spira was teaching a screenwriting course at Film Oxford in Cowley.

He said: “There was this older guy in the class who travelled in for it and I got talking to him.

“It turned out it was John Chapman, who had been an extra as a rebel pilot in Star Wars. The more I spoke to him I realised it was a really big thing in his life. He went to conventions, he signed autographs, met fans, really lived Star Wars.”

The film interviews 10 actors from the original 1976 cult hit.

Mr Spira, 38, said: “It’s not really about Star Wars, it’s about those people, who they were before they were in it and then how it affected their lives.

“That was what interested me as a filmmaker. What’s going on around back? The most interesting stories are the ones that haven’t been told.

“The one thing these people have in common is that in 1976 they were all on this set making a film that people thought would be a flop and it turned out to be the most significant pop culture thing ever.

“It’s 30 or 40 years later now and it’s affected all of their lives – some for the best and some not so good.”

The film’s producer Hank Starrs said: “The well-known characters make a lot of money from it, but what about the people under the helmets and under the masks?

“Star Wars has become this cultural phenomenon and this film looks at how it’s exuded through mass culture.”

Mr Starrs, 48, who used to live in North Oxford but has recently moved to London, said: “Independent films are very different from Hollywood because you haven’t got many resources.

“But it’s really good fun because you have complete control and you haven’t really got any deadlines except the ones you set yourself.”

Filming is complete and Mr Spira is now fundraising so that it can be released by the end of next year.

He said: “It comes out towards the end of 2015, which will coincide with the new Star Wars film. It feels like that’s a time where people are coming out to see more Star Wars stuff.